Culvert unloader



Oct. 23, 1962 M. ZION I 3,059,783

CULVERT UNLOADER Filed July 9, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 49 INVENTOR MosesZ/a/v m fz/&A %&

M. ZION 3,059,783

CULVERT UNLOA 4 sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1958 -nu ll pm; O

INVENT M0355 Z I0 QRNEYJ Oct. 23, 1962 M. ZION CULVERT UNLOADER FildJuly 9, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 all I WWW! INVENTOR Mum ,Z/o/v 977/441 may9% ATTORNEYS I United States Patent Ofiice 3,059,783 Patented Oct. 23;1962 3,059,783 CULVERT UNLOADER Moses Zion, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor toThe Lionel Corporation, New York, N .Y., a corporation of New York FiledJuly 9, 1958, Ser. No. 747,456 Claims. (Cl. 212-87) This inventionrelates in general to toys and particularly to a new and useful toyincluding means for automatically unloading a toy vehicle andtransferring the objects unloaded to a station for subsequent loading.

In copending, co-assigned application Serial No. 683,843, filedSeptember 13, 1957 by Richard G. Smith, now Pat. No. 2,985,982 there isdisclosed and claimed a culvert loader for automatically loading toyvehicles. The present invention provides a complementary unloader forthe same type of vehicle and includes means for transferring theunloaded objects to an apparatus imilar to that disclosed in theaforementioned application for subsequent loading by that mechanism.Besides providing means for unloading as well as loading objects from avehicle, the present invention is directed to improved mechanisms foreffecting such unloading.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a toy deviceincluding means for unloading objects from a toy vehicle andtransferring these objects to a loading station for subsequent loadingon a toy vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy having means forunloading objects from a toy vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanismfor operating a toy lifting and unloading device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy culvert unloaderfor a model railway which is simple in design, rugged in constructionand economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated and described a preferredembodiment of the invention.

, In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a model railwayculvert lifting and conveying mechanism constructed in accordance withthe invention;

-FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a model railway culvert unloader stationconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 3 to 6 inclusive are fragmentary elevations, partly in section, ofthe toy culvert unloader overhead lifting and conveying apparatus forthe culvert unloader indicated in FIG. 2 and showing the parts invarious positions of the lifting and conveying stages of its operation;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section of a portion of the mountingplatform and tape conveyor operating mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the magnetic pickup of the cranemechanism;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 1010 of FIGS. 6 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of the culvert transferplatform;

FIG. 13 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of the 2 culvert unloaderconstructed in accordance with this invention and arranged in workingcooperation with the culvert loader disclosed and claimed in copendingSerial No. 683,843 referred to above, including a bridging memberpermitting automatic transfer from one station to the other forunloading and loading purposes;

FlG. 14 is a diagrammatic, partially exploded perspective view of thedrive mechanism;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG.2;

FIG. 16 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG.15; and

FIG. 17 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 17-17 of a FIG.15.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention as embodiedtherein includes an overhead pickup crane mechanism generally designatedA, a mounting platform generally designated B, operating mechanismgenerally designated C, a transfer station and cover generallydesignated D, and a toy railroad car generally designated E.

The platform B includes a recessed portion 10 providing a ramp accessfor a wheeled toy vehicle, or, as in this instance, providing a recessfor a track structure 11 for the toy railroad car E. The railroad car Eis provided with an inclined bottom 12 upon which is positioned aplurality of pipe members or culverts 14. The culverts 14 are preferablycylindrical or of a shape which will permit their rolling down theinclined bottom 12 to one end of the car E for unloading in successionat this lower end. The culverts are made of magnetic material. Anyobject of magnetic material which can be placed below the overheadpickup crane mechanism A on either a vehicle or a platform is suitablefor transfer by the toy mechanism.

In accordance with the invention the overhead pick up crane mechanism Aincludes a pair of upright bridging members or poles 16 and 18 arrangedat each side of the platform B adjacent one end thereof. The bridgingmembers 16 and 18 are connected by an overhead channel-shaped beammember 20 which carries a traveling crane generally designated 22. Thetraveling crane 22 includes two spaced top pulleys 24 and 26 rotatablymounted on a horseshoe-shaped block member 28. The pulleys 24 and 26move on the top face of the channelshaped beam member 20. The pulleyblock member 28 may be moved from side to side between the bridgingmembers 16 and 18 in accordance with movement of a double cable or line30. One leg or portion 31 of the double line 30 is directed around apulley 3-2 rotatably mounted on the block member 28, and the otherportion 33 is directed around a pulley 34, rotatably mounted on a blockmember 28 in spaced horizontal alignment with the pulley 32. The twoportions 31 and 33 complete the loop of the double line 30 around apulley 36, rotatably mounted at the upper end of a magnetic pickupgenerally designated 38. The arrangement is such that when there is anyslack on the line 30 each leg of the line will feed around the pulleys32, 34 and 36 to permit the magnetic pickup 38 to drop under its ownweight.

In order to maintain the double line 30 under tension at all times whenit is not desired to lower the magnetic pickup 38, a weighted membergenerally designated 40 is arranged to slide freely up and down onguides on the bridging member 16. A pulley-block tensioning line 42 issecured at its one end to the bridging member 16 (shown in FIG. 1) andis looped about a pulley 44 rotatably mounted on the weighted body 40.The tensioning line 42 extends around another pulley 46 rotatablymounted on the top of the bridging member 16, and is connected at itsopposite end to the pulley block member 28. The weighted body includestwo portions 47 and 48 which are bolted together and are provided withre cesses at their junctions which provide guides for engagement withthe bridging member 16. The complete overhead crane pickup mechanism maybe locked against movement by securing the weighted body in position onthe frame member 16 by tightening a set screw to engage the screw with aportion of the bridging member 16.

In accordance with the invention, movement of the double line 30 iseffected by the operating mechanism C, which comprises a pair of spaceddriving sprocket drums 52 and 54 which are dependably mounted on aninverted L-shaped member 49, 55 for rotation about a vertical axis. TheL-shaped member is connected at its base to the platform B and includesan overhanging top 49 which supports a pivotal sprocket drum supportingarm 51. The sprocket drum 54 is biased in a direction away from the drum52 by a spring 57 which is anchored at one end in the top 49 and extendsaround the arm 51. The sprocket 52 is supported by the top 49 and isrotated by a large gear 56 which is affixed to a common shaft therewith,the gear being rotated by a smaller gear 58 affixed to a shaft 60. Theshaft 60 also contains a pulley 62 around which is looped a driving cord64 which is connected at one end to a tension spring 66 secured to theplatform B. At its opposite end the driving cord 64 is secured to theend of an oscillating member 68. The member 68 is an armature oscillatedby a solenoid 71 when the latter is electrically actuated from anelectrical power source (not shown). Energization of the solenoid causesan initial pull on the line 64 to rotate the pulley 62, and subsequentde-energization permits slipping of the line on the pulley under theinfluence of the spring 66. Continued oscillation under the influence ofan alternating current, for example, effects continued rotation of thepulley 62, and through the gears 58 and 56, continued rotation of thesprocket 52.

The drive means for the sprocket 52 and the associated mechanism isdescribed in more detail in the patent application Serial No. 651,006,filed April 5, 1957, by John V. M. Digirolamo, which since matured intoPatent No. 2,954,491, entitled Impulse Motor, and having a commonassignee with the present application.

The sprocket 52 effects rotation of the sprocket 54 through the mediumof an endless belt or tape 72 which is revolved by engagement of theteeth of the sprocket wheels with spaced openings in the tape. In thepresent instance, the tape is made of a Celluloid material such as moviefilm which is very inexpensive, but any similar belt or tape for thedriving sprocket combination may be employed.

In accordance with the invention, the double line 30 extends over anupper pulley 74 rotatably mounted on the bridging member 18, and a lowerpulley 76 located at the bottom of the bridging member. The double line30 is passed through an elbow guide 77 on the platform B and isconnected to an arm 78 of a pivotal member generally designated 80. Thepivotal member 89 includes a portion 81 pivotally mounted on theoutstanding end of a U-shaped securing bracket 82 affixed to the tape 72(FIG. 7). Movement of the pivot member 80 toward the sprocket 52 movesthe block member 28 to the left as indicated in FIG. 1 under theinfluence of the double line 30. When the pivot member 80 moves beyondthe end of the sprocket 52 its direction is reversed and it is movedbackwardly on the other side thereof in the direction toward thesprocket 54. The length of the line 30 is such that the block member 28is moved over into close proximity to the pulley 74 at which point thepivot member 80 moves around the sprocket 52 and thence the block 28 ismoved backwardly toward the opposite pulley 46 by weight 40. The beam 20is provided with a stop 84 which extends into the path of the blockmember 28 and stops its lateral movement. Thereupon further movement ofthe pivot member 80 on the tape 72 in the direction toward the sprocket54 effects paying out of the line 30 to cause the magnetic pickup 38 todescend.

The stop 84 is located in a position to effect lowering of the magneticpickup 38 at a location in which it is directly above the railroad carE. The length of the tape 72 and that of the double line 30 are suchthat the mag netic pickup 38 is moved downwardly into contactingengagement with a culvert 14. Further movement of the tape 72 brings thepivot around the sprocket 54 and effects first elevation of the pickup38 and then movement of the block 28 in a direction toward the framemember 18. Movement of the pickup with the magnetically held culvert inthe direction toward the frame 18 is continued until the culvert strikesthe side wall 86 of the combination transfer station and cover D. Thetop of the side wall 86 is above the bottom of the culvert but below thebottom level of the pickup 38. Continued movement of the pickup towardthe frame 18 effects stripping of the culvert 14 from the pickup by theside wall 86.

The transfer station and cover D includes an upper platform 88 having aninclined floor 90 and a lower platform 92 having an inclined floor 94(FIG. 12). Each culvert 14 which is stripped from the magnetic pickup 38is deposited on the inclined floor 90 and it rolls by gravity down thefloor 90 and drops to the inclined floor 94 and rolls to the far endthereof.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: In FIG. 1 the pickupmember 38 is indicated in the position it assumes after it has beenreciprocated downwardly to pick up an article from the train E and thenis moved upwardly as the line 30 is pulled by the member 80 in adirection away from the pulley 46. It can be seen that the weight 40urges the crane member 22 in a direction toward the pulley 46. Since thesprockets 52 and 54 are rotatably supported from above, each dependingfrom the top 49, of the inverted L-shaped member 55 the member 80 isfree to move around with the belt 72 through an elongated ovate path. Asthe member 80 moves in the direction of the arrow indicated in FIG. 1 itpulls the line 30 in a direction away from the pulley 46 and pulls thecrane member 22 along therewith. Just before the member 80 comes abreastof the sprocket 52 the culvert or pipe 14 contacts the abutment 86 andis stripped from pickup member 38. Thereafter the member 80 rotatesaround the sprocket 52 and commences movement in a return directiontoward the sprocket 54. This permits feeding of the line 30 in adirection toward the pulley 46 and movement of the crane member 22 inthe same direction under the influence of the weight 40. When the cranemember contacts the stationary stop 84 (best seen in FIG. 3) the line 30continues to pay out, and since it is looped around the pulley 36 of thepickup member 38, it causes the pickup member 38 to descend and moveinto engagement with another one of the pipes 14. The length of the tape72 is such that the member 80 rounds the sprocket 54 just as the pickupmember comes into full engagement with the pipe 14. Thereupon the member80 starts off in the direction indicated in FIG. 1 and causes the line30 to move away from the pulley 46 and to raise the pickup member to theposition indicated in FIG. 1.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the transfer stationand cover D may be positioned to connect to a similar transfer stationand cover of a culvert loader 96 (FIG. 13). This culvert loader isgenerally similar to that indicated and described in the abovementionedcopending application Serial No. 683,843, filed September 13, 1957, byRichard G. Smith. To facilitate interconnecting the loader and theunloader a bridging member 98 is provided which interconnects the end ofthe inclined floor 90 with an inclined floor 99 of the loader 96bypassing the inclined floor 94. Thus, culverts deposited on theinclined floor 90 will roll downwardly to the end of the inclined floor99 of the culvert loader 96 to a position for alignment with a loadermechanism to load them onto a vehicle. Thus, the invention permitscontinuous "loading and unloading of the culverts entirely automaticallyand without touching them at all by hand.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventionprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise Without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. An unloader for a toy vehicle or the like comprising a cranesupporting frame, a crane member laterally movable above said vehicle onsaid frame, an object engaging pickup member including an upstandingpulley portion, a line connected at its one end to said crane member andlooped around said pulley portion of said pickup member, said line beingadapted to draw said crane member from the loading to the unloadingpoint, means connected to the opposite end of said line for moving saidline to and fro, means for urging said crane member from the unloadingto the loading point, means along said frame to stop said crane member,said moving means being effective to feed said line in a directiontoward said stop means to lower said pickup member from said cranemember, substantially in the region of the loading point, after saidcrane member contacts said stop means.

2. An unloader comprising an overhead beam, a crane member movable alongsaid beam, means to urge said crane member along said beam in thedirection of the loading point, an endless belt, means for movingcontinuously said belt, and line means connecting said crane member andsaid belt, adapted to move said crane member toward the unloading pointagainst said urging means when said line means is moved by said belt inone direction and to permit said crane member to be moved toward theloading point under the influence of said urging means When said linemeans is paid out by said belt in the opposite direction.

3. An unloader according to claim 2, including a pickup member having apulley rotatable therein and wherein said line means includes a lineoperatively engaging said crane member and looped around said pulley.

4. A toy train unloading device comprising, in combination, a loadingplatform, an unloading station on one side of said platform, a trackwaymounted on said platform, overhead train conveyor means supported abovesaid trackway and movable laterally in respect thereto, means for movingsaid conveyor means between said trackway and said unloading station, anobject engaging pickup member connected to said conveyor means, a stoppositioned in the path of travel of said conveyor means, means forreciprocating said pickup member up and down over said trackway uponcontact of said conveyor means with said stop, whereby to pick up anobject from a car positioned on said trackway, abutment means in thepath of movement of said object to strip said object from said pickupmember for unloading said object upon movement of said conveyor means tosaid unloading station, and an inclined platform on said unloadingstation on which said object is deposited by said pickup member forrolling movement therealong under the influence of gravity.

5. A combination loading and unloading station for a toy train or thelike comprising a frame, an overhead crane member connected to saidframe and laterally movable above said train, an object engaging pickupmember connected to said crane member, means for moving said cranemember to and fro, stop means in the path of travel of said crane memberabove said train, means for lowering said pickup member when said stopmeans contacts said crane member and when said crane member is alignedabove said train, an unloading station, means on said unloading stationto strip an object from said pickup member when said crane member ismoved adjacent thereto, a loading station, and inclined means connectingsaid unloading station with said loading station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,490,235 Smith Apr. 15, 1924 1,745,276 Sherwood Jan. 28, 1930 2,453,082Allard Nov. 2, 1948 2,829,780 Boor Apr. 8, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 504,674Germany Aug. 8, 1930

